Method for manufacturing tampons



Jan. 21, 1969 J. WOLFF ET AL METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING I'AMPONS FiledSept. 13. 1965 United States Patent METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING TAMPONSJustus Wolff and Bernd Messing, Wuppertal-Barmen, Germany, assignors toDr. Carl Hahn KG, Dusseldorf,

Germany, a corporation of Germany Filed Sept. 13, 1965, Ser. No. 487,095Claims priority, application Netherlands, Sept. 14, 1964,

6410706 U.S. Cl. 19--144.5 4 Claims Int. Cl. A61l15/00;A61f 13/00ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Method for manufacturing tampons fromsubstantially cylindrical tampon blanks in apparatus provided with aplurality of edge bearing pressing jaws and a plurality of arcuatesurface pressing jaws alternately disposed about the axis of the blankcomprising: initially closing all of the pressing jaws to center theblank thereamong; and then compressing the blank to its final diameter,preferably first with the edge bearing pressing jaws and then with thearcuate surface pressing jaws.

This invention relates in general to the manufacture of tampons, such asare used in feminine hygiene, and more particularly to a method andapparatus for manufacturing finished tampons from blanks of coiledabsorbent material, such as cotton fleece sheets.

According to the invention, an approximately cylindrical tampon blank issubjected to radial compression along a plurality of peripheral contactlines lying on radial planes symmetrically disposed about apredetermined longitudinal axis which represents the centrallongitudinal axis intended for the finished product. The tainpon blankis compressed to the extent where its radial dimensions along suchcontact lines are reduced to the radial dimensions therealong intendedfor the finished product. This results in a semi-finished tampon havinga scalloped transverse cross section, with the scalloped portions lyingbetween adjacent compression lines. These scalloped portions are thencompressed radially to form a finished cylindrical tampon of increaseddensity.

For performing these two distinct radial compression steps, theinvention provides an apparatus having a plurality of jaw membersdisposed for movement along respective radial paths surrounding theintended finished tampon central axis.

Each of these jaw members are provided with inwardly facing, i.e towardthe central axis, pressing portions which are disposed to contactcorresponding portions of the tampon blank for effecting radialcompression thereof. To perform the required line pressing and scallopedpressing functions, alternate jaw members are provided with edge linetype pressing portions and cylindrical segment surface pressingportions,

The jaw members are disposed for limited inward movement along theirrespective radial paths with their pressing portions in contact with thetampon blank, with the limit inward radial positions of the jaw memberscorresponding to the dimensions of the finished tampon.

While all of the jaw members can be moved inwardly in unison to effectcomplete radial compression of the tampon blank, it is preferableaccording to the invention that the jaw members having edge typepressing portions be moved inwardly in unison to first compress thetampon blank to its final dimension along the peripheral contact linesof such edges, and then to effect compression of the scalloped portionsthus initially produced by means of the jaw members having cylindricalsegment pressing portions.

Patented Jan. 21, 1969 ice To provide assurance that the finished tamponwill have a density which increases uniformly toward its geometricalaxis, the invention provides for initially closing all of the jawmembers simultaneously so that their pressing portions contact thetampon blank along lengthwise portions thereof which are concentricallylocated with respect to the intended finished tampon central axis. Thisinitial jaw closing operation is performed after the jaws have beenspread apart to define an opening having sufficient clearance forinserting the tampon blank, and is performed prior to any further radialcompression of the tampon blank, although it is understood that someminimal local compression will result when the jaws are initially closedfor supporting and centering the tampon blank, by reason of the contactbetween such blank and the pressing portions of the jaw members.

The invention is based upon the discovery that, by virtue of the initialuniform closing movement of all of the jaw members pressing portionsapproximately as far as the diameter of the tampon blank, a securecentering of the blank in the jaws takes place such that any unilateralgripping of the underside of the tampon blank by the lower press jawswhich support it as in cases where the tampon blank is positionedhorizontally for pressing, is substantially eliminated. Consequently,there is substantially no premature or unilateral clamping of the blankabout any line offset from the intended central axis.

Hence, during the subsequent radial compression steps, which are alsoperformed so as to preserve the initial consolidation concentricityafforded by uniform closing of-all jaws, the tampon blank material isfurther consolidated concentrically and uniformly towards the centrallongitudinal axis of the finished tampon. This assures that the regionof greatest strength in the finished tampon will coincide with thecentral longitudinal axis thereof, and will not be shifted toward theperiphery of the tampon, such as might occur as a result of prematurecompression of the blank at portions of its periphery. Such a uni-formradial compression is particularly desirable because it renders thetampon easier for the user to manipulate for introduction into her bodycavity, and prevents buckling which would render such manipulationdifficult.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a method for themanufacture of tampons suitable for feminine hygiene.

Another object of the invention is to provide a method as aforesaidwhich is suitable for the mass production of high quality tampons havinguniform stability for convenience in use.

A further object of the invention is to provide an apparatus formanufacturing tampons in accordance with the aforesaid method.

Other and further objects and advantages of the invention will becomeapparent from the following detailed description and accompanyingdrawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic end view of an apparatus for manufacturing tamponsin accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, illustratingsuch apparatus and a tampon blank in a configuration corresponding tothe initial gripping and centering of such blank in accordace with themethod of the invention.

FIG. 2 is another schematic end view of the apparatus of FIG. 1 showingsuch apparatus and tampon blank in a configuration corresponding to thecompletion of the edge pressing step in the method according to theinvention.

FIG. 3 is a further schematic end view of the apparatus of FIG. 1showing such apparatus and tampon blank in a con-figurationcorresponding to the completion of the final pressing step in the methodaccording to the invention.

Referring now to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the apparatus 10 provides for themolding of tampon blanks 11a, such as are formed from approximatelycylindrical coiled sheets of cotton fleece, into finished tamponssuitable for use in feminine hygiene. This molding of the blanks 11a isperfonmed by a plurality of jaw members12 and 13 which radially compressthe tampon blank 11a into a semifinished tampon blank 11b shown in FIG.2, and then finally into the finished tampon 110 shown in FIG. 3.

Two distinct types of jaw members 12 and 13 are provided, one typerepresented by the four pointed jaws 12 serves for radially compressingthe tampon blank 11a along peripheral contact lines 14 lying on radialplanes symmetrically disposed about a predetermined longitudinal axis Xwhich represents the central longitudinal axis X intended for thefinished product 11c. For this purpose, each of the jaws 12 areconstructed with lateral faces 15 intersecting to define an edge line 16which contacts the blank along a corresponding peripheral contact line14. Although the lateral faces 15 can exert some compression on thetampon blank 11a, it is convenient to regard the edge lines 16 of thejaws 12 as their pressing portions, since when such jaws are movedradially inward with their edges 16 in contact with the tampon blank,the principal compression forces are transmitted through the edges 16.The other type of jaw members 13 are constructed with concavecylindrical segment surface pressing portions 17 which are each boundedby a pair of lateral surfaces 18, preferably planar and parallel to eachother.

The jaws 12 and 13 are disposed for movement along respective radialpaths R R surrounding the axis X. As can be noted from the drawing, thejaws 12 are disposed for movement along the radial paths R R R and RThus, the jaw members 12 and 13 are arranged alternately to provide jaws12 with edge pressing portions 16 and jaws 13 with cylindrical segmentsurface pressing portions 17 arranged in a circumferential alternatingsequence around the axis X.

Preferably, the jaws 12 and 13 are disposed symmetrically about the axisX and extend longitudinally therealong for a distance corresponding tothe length of the tampon blank 11a which is approximately the same asthe length of the finished tampon 110.

For purposes of example, the drawing shows an apparatus 10 having jawmembers 12 and 13 constructed and arranged to produce a finished tampon110 of substantially circular cylindrical shape from a tampon blank 11awhich is approximately circular cylindrical in shape, although bymodifications of the jaw members 12 and 13 as will become apparent tothe artisan from the description of the invention herein, other finishedtampon shapes (not shown) can also be produced.

For simplicity, the means for effecting the intended movements of thejaw members 12 and 13 along their respective radial paths R -R toreceive a tampon blank 11a and to effect radial compression of same intothe semifinished blank 11b and thence into the finished tampon 110 arenot illustrated, and any suitable conventional motive means (not shown)can be used. Likewise, it is assumed that suitable guide means (notshown) are provided in the apparatus 10 for maintaining the jaw members12 and 13 on their intended radial movement paths R R Such guide means(not shown) can be any suitable type commonly used for similar purposes,such as for example, a collar having appropriately machined slots (notshown).

Furthermore, as can be readily noted from the drawing, the edges 16 andthe center lines of the cylindrical segment surfaces 17 are disposed inalignment wih planes defined by the axis X and their respectivelyassociated radial paths R1Rg.

The jaw members 12 and 13 as indicated by FIG. 1 \are disposed at afirst set of radial positions along their respective movement paths R -Rto define an open jaw configuration for receiving a tampon blank 11a andsupporting same in equilibrium substantially concentric with the axis X.Thus, the jaw members 12 and 13 are arranged for outward radial movementslightly beyond such an open jaw configuration to provide clearance forthe insertion of the blank 11a, and for inward radial movement in unisonfrom such an exended open jaw configuration into the uniform open jawsupporting configuration of FIG. 1.

In accordance with the method of the invention, after the tampon blank11a is supported and centered as in FIG. 1, the jaw members 12 are movedradially inward in unison to radially compress said blank 11a along itsperipheral edge lines 14 to form the semi-finished tampon 11billustrated in FIG. 2. In this edgewise compression step, the edges 16of the jaws 12 are brought inward to a second set of radial positionswhereby the radial dimensions of semi-finished tampon 11b along its edgelines 14 are substantially equal to the radial dimensions in thefinished tampon 110. During the compression by the jaw members 12, theother jaw members 13 remain in their previous positions indicated inFIG. 1.

The semi-finished tampon 11b is then finally compressed by the jaws 13along its scalloped portions 19 which extend into the radial passages 20defined by the lateral surfaces 15 of the jaw members 12 when extendedinward after compression as shown in FIG. 2. In performing this finalcompression step, the jaws 12 remain in the same positions illustratedin FIG. 2, and the jaws 13 are moved radially inward along theirrespective radial paths R R R and R guided by their lateral surfaces 18which slidably engage along the lateral surfaces 15 defining thepassages 20, until the cylindrical segment pressing surfaces 17 of saidjaws 13 are disposed in radial positions corresponding to those of theedges 16 of the jaws 12, thereby forming the finished tampon 110.

As will be appreciated by the artisan from FIG. 3, the cylindricalsegment surfaces 17 of the jaws 13 are arranged to join along the edges16 of the jaws 12 to form a substantially laterally enclosed cylindricalfemale mold which produces the cylindrically shaped finished tampon 11c.

Consequently, for the specific embodiment of the apparatus shown inFIGS. 1-3 where four cylindrical segment type jaws 13 and four edge typejaws 12 are used, the cylindrical segment surfaces 17 of the jaws 13 areeach constructed to present substantially a one-quarter cylindricalsurface (neglecting the finite width of the edges 16 on the jaws 12).Likewise, as is apparent in this specific embodiment of the invention,the radial paths R -R are disposed apart, to provide for a mutuallysymmetric arrangement of the jaws 12 spaced apart in relation to eachother, and the jaws 13 also spaced 90 apart with respect to each otherand uniformly spaced 45 apart from adjacent jaws 12.

It is not intended to represent that the specific apparatus embodimentshown and described herein is the only apparatus capable of performingthe method of the invention. On the contrary, other apparatusembodiments (not shown) having more than four edge type jaws 12 and fourcylindrical segment type jaws 13 can be constructed on the same basis asthe apparatus 10. Of course with corresponding difiFerent geometricalarrangements to perform substantially the same method of tamponmanufacture. Likewise, an apparatus (not shown) having three jawssimilar to the jaws 12 and three jaws similar to the jaws 13 can beused. While an apparatus (not shown) having two jaws similar to the jaws13, but with half-cylindrical segments surfaces could theoretically beused, such an arrangement is not recommended because of potentialproblems in providing suitable operating edge type jaws.

What is claimed is:

1. In the manufacture of tampons by providing a substantiallycylindrical tampon blank; inserting such blank into a compression zonehaving a multiplicity of spaced pressing means having line contacttherewith alternated with a multiplicity of spaced pressing means havingsurface contact therewith; about the periphery thereof with the longestdimension of said pressing means being substantially longitudinal withrespect to said tampon; compressing said blank between said line contactpressing means to form a scalloped semi-finished tampon with the deepestindentations therein approximating the de sired final diameter of saidtampon; and then compressing the largest diameter portions of saidscalloped semifinished tampon between said surface pressing means toproduce a substantially cylindrical compressed tampon; the improvementwhich comprises initially simultaneously hearing all of said line andsurface pressing means against said tampon blank to about the initialdiameter of said blank whereby said tampon blank is centered between allsuch pressing means; and thereafter compressing said blank between saidline pressing means and said surface pressing means.

2. The improved process claimed in claim 1 wherein said line pressingmeans and said surface pressing means compress said tampon blanksuccessively, respectively.

3. The improved process claimed in claim 1 wherein said surface contactis a longitudinal portion of a cylinder having a radius of curvaturesubstantially equivalent to the surface of the finished tampon.

4. The improved process claimed in claim 1 wherein said tampon is cottonfleece.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 164,903 6/1875 Cahoon 100-2322,566,190 8/1951 Greiner et al. 19-144.5 3,088,168 5/1963 Lloyd et a1100 -232 XR 3,134,139 5/1964 Wentorf 100-232 XR 2,464,310 3/1949 Harwood19-l44.5 2,798,260 7/1957 Niepmann et al. 19-1445 20 ROBERT R. MACKEY,Primary Examiner.

